Mark Melancon

Bud Norris carried a no-hitter until two outs in the seventh inning of a 4-1 victory on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, thwarted by — who else? — Astros-star-turned-nemesis Lance Berkman.
[Read More]

If you’ve paid attention to anything I’ve written in these pages, you know I’m a Brad Mills’ fan. He has a tough situation to manage, trying to piece together a lineup and bullpen night in and night out.
[Read More]

SAN DIEGO — Silly stats both, but to be the Astros’ wins leader by yourself and the Astros’ saves leader by yourself, you probably have to be in the center of it all. That’s the position that Mark Melancon (4-1, 5 saves) has found himself in, and he’s not about to back out of it. […]
[Read More]

Unlikely story
It’s a statistical quirk, perhaps, but it’s one that doesn’t speak well for the way the Astros’ season is unfolding.
The team’s victory leaders are two relief pitchers: Brandon Lyon (3-2) and Mark Melancon (3-1).
Lyon picked up two of h…
[Read More]

How do you win a game with half the hits of your opponent like the Astros did to the Reds on Wednesday? Walk nine times, and it’s very doable, especially if you don’t issue one free pass yourself.
[Read More]

The Astros are last in the major leagues in pitching and defensive efficiency. They have the worst record in the National League. It doesn’t take a team of sabermetricians, then, to determine pitching and defense – or to be more precise, a lack thereof – are a problem.
[Read More]

After what we’ve seen of Lyon, the type of injury he has, and the fact that he’s been hiding it while directly causing losses, I think his future lies elsewhere in the bullpen. If Melancon can continue doing what he’s been doing, he may wind up being the closer for the bulk of the season.
[Read More]

Wait until the Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Relief Pitchers gets wind of this. Astros relievers are working at a frenetic pace – and taking some fierce beatings for their trouble. After an 11-7 defeat against the Cardinals on Thursday that including a nine-run outburst in the sixth inning, the Astros bullpen has […]
[Read More]